Stage III and IV squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva

From 1957 to 1975, 61 patients with FIGO Stage III and IV vulvar carcinoma underwent primary therapy at Roswell Park Memorial Institute and all have been followed for 5 years or until death. The 5- and 10-year survival for Stage III was 77 and 60%, respectively. The 5- and 10-year survival for Stage IV was only 7.1%. Of the Stage III recurrences, 73.3% occurred within the local operated area: urethra, vagina, anus, or perineum. In contrast, 61% of the recurrences in Stage IV were distant, i.e., outside of the operated area. Because of the high local recurrence rate for Stage III and the low survival and high rate of distant recurrences in Stage IV, new treatment plans are proposed for patients with Stage III or IV vulvar carcinoma.